Kovalainen dropped because he was too fast

Heikki Kovalainen was reportedly jettisoned by Renault in favor of Nelson Piquet junior because Fernando Alonso was wary of the Finn's pace.

While confirmation of Alonso's return to Renault this week was not a surprise, the ousting of Kovalainen was unexpected. The youngster excelled during the second half of his debut season, comfortably eclipsing the lackluster Giancarlo Fisichella.

Pointedly, team boss Flavio Briatore was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for Kovalainen's dismissal in his farewell to both drivers, instead praising the Finn as "a fast, intelligent and engaging driver, who is definitely capable of winning races in the future."

That capability may have proved his undoing, however, with Autosport disclosing:

'It is understood that his speed ultimately cost him the chance of staying on board at Renault, because the returning Fernando Alonso did not want a team-mate to pose the kind of challenge that he faced with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren this year.' PlanetF1